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I remember one particular day when I was called in to substitute for a third-grade class. As soon as I entered the classroom, I could sense a lack of structure and discipline among the students. They were running around and talking loudly, and it was clear that they were not focused on their work. I knew I had to act quickly to establish order and regain their attention.
I immediately pulled out my phone and opened the Class Dojo app. As I had used it before, I knew that it would be an effective way to communicate with the students and motivate them to participate in class. I projected the app on the whiteboard, and the students' eyes were drawn to the colorful and interactive interface. (Remember to always check with your school or employer in regards to sharing the screen of your personal device with students. Most schools will approve if it's educational.)
I explained to the students that I would be using Class Dojo to keep track of their behavior and participation in class. I set up different positive behaviors such as participation, helping others, and staying on task, each with a corresponding point value. I also explained the negative behaviors and the point deductions that would occur if they were displayed.
To my surprise, the students immediately started to respond positively to the system. They were eager to earn points and show off their positive behaviors to their classmates. I also used the messaging feature to communicate with individual students who needed extra encouragement or reminders about their behavior.
As the day went on, the Class Dojo system proved to be a valuable asset in maintaining discipline and encouraging participation. The students were actively engaged in their work, and there was a noticeable improvement in their behavior. At the end of the day, I was able to use the app to award a prize to the student with the most points, which further motivated them to participate in class.
As a substitute teacher, Class Dojo has been an invaluable tool for me to establish order and connect with my students. Its user-friendly interface and interactive features make it easy to use and highly effective in motivating students to participate and display positive behaviors. I highly recommend using Class Dojo to any teacher, whether a permanent or substitute teacher, looking to enhance their teaching experience and connect with their students on a deeper level.